On June 4th, the team announced a four-year nearly one-hundred and eleven million dollar extension for wide receiver Christian Watson, and there’s likely more in the pipeline.

Here’s a quick rundown on the commitment.

Around The League

Upon the announcement of Christian Watson’s extension, there was some sense of sticker shock, but when compared to other receivers around the league, I think the numbers for Watson are pretty reasonable.

A couple of months ago, the Colts signed Alec Pierce to his own four-year deal, netting one-hundred and fourteen million dollars, and that should’ve been evidence enough of the upward trend in the market.

Watson’s new deal makes him the twelfth highest paid receiver in the league right now, and newly extended teammate Jayden Reed rounds out the top thirty.

That may seem a little rich, but with names like Puka Nacua, Chris Olave, and Drake London also expecting extensions, Watson and Reed are certain to drop a few places of the course of the coming season.

In the grand scheme of things, I think there’s only one comparison that Green Bay Packers fans should really keep their eyes on, and that’s the comparison to Romeo Doubs.

Doubs signed with the Patriots in free agency on a four-year sixty-eight million dollar deal, and only time will tell if the Packers have extended the right names.

There’s certainly something to be said for Watson’s injury history, and I’ve always been a big proponent of Doubs, but when it comes down to game-altering ability, there’s no match for Christian Watson.

Matthew Golden may soon challenge for that title, but until then, I think the Packers have made the right choice.

The Super Bowl window is open, and there’s no sense in whittling it down by letting our best talent test the market.

A Game Changer

At the end of the day, the Green Bay Packers’ decision to extend Christian Watson was likely an easy one.

Whether or not you trust Watson to stay healthy long-term, his impact on the offense is undeniable.

In 2025, after returning from an ACL tear, Watson played some of his best football.

In just ten games, Watson had six-hundred and eleven yards and six touchdowns, which was an even stronger level of production than some of his healthier stretches.

It took fourteen and fifteen games in 2022 and 2024 respectively for Watson to reach six hundred yards, and only his rookie season featured more touchdowns.

This past year, both his usage rate and efficiency improved, and both metrics seem promising heading into 2026, where the Packers will be relying more on Watson than ever before.

If he can keep it going, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Packers’ first one-thousand yard receiving season since Davante Adams in 2021, especially considering the uncertainty at running back.

Green Bay shares the NFL’s longest drought in that regard with the New England Patriots, whose last one-thousand receiver was Julian Edelman, and both teams are poised to get off the schneid.

Watson didn’t appear to lose any explosiveness from his injury, and with an increased target share and a full seventeen game slate, he should be able to fully live up to his superstar potential.

Who’s Next?

With the extensions of Christian Watson and Jayden Reed, the Green Bay Packers have invested just over one-hundred and sixty million dollars in their future over the past month and a half, and that number will only continue to climb.

Tight end Tucker Kraft will be next on the Packers’ docket, and his compensation will be just as eye-popping.

According to Ian Rapoport, Kraft is a “big priority” for the Packers, and “will probably reset the the tight end market.”

That, in turn, means exceeding the existing contracts of players like Trey McBride and George Kittle, who will both make seventy-six million dollars over the course of their deals.

Coming off an ACL tear, it’s daunting to consider dedicating that much money to Kraft, but things have worked out well for Watson, and Kraft is easily the Packers’ most notable tight end since Jermichael Finley.

Assuming all goes well, Kraft could have the opportunity to become the franchise’s best, and that’s more than worth investing in.

Honestly, it’s quite a bit! Even some of the things mentioned last week are mostly just hypothetical scenarios that could possibly play out. There are a ton of proven positives that this current iteration of the Packers do have!

Let’s stay overly positive this week and look what the Packers do have going for them.

These are the top five proven positives that one should watch for in 2026:

Number 5 Packers Positive – Matt LaFleur:

Matt LaFleur has been the Green Bay Packers head coach for the past seven years! It’s crazy how quickly time flies. It almost feels like it was just yesterday watching his opening press conference. Ever since the Packers have hired LaFleur, he honestly has just won. He has an overall record of 76 wins, 40 losses, and one tie.

Since his hiring in 2019, LaFleur’s offensive scoring ranking has averaged 10.85 per season. This means that he is nearly top ten every season in scoring. His best ranking was the number one scoring offense in 2020. Last year, was LaFluer’s worst ranked scoring season and it was sixteenth. For a down year, that’s not bad.

LaFleur is objectively one of the NFL’s best play callers and is well known in getting his players in position to make plays. Sometimes it is crazy to see how wide open some guys are just based on scheme alone. Matt LaFleur is an elite play caller.

Number 4 – Defensive Stars

But of course, it takes more than just offense to win in the NFL. A great defense is necessary! And the Packers have a ton of defensive stars that should be acknowledged.

Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, and Javon Bullard are probably the best triple threat safety and slot corner group in the NFL. They are fantastic at locking up the backend of the defense and being playmakers. McKinney had a down year in the turnover side of things but expect that to not be the case in 2026.

Then, one doesn’t have to look much further to find a rising star at the linebacker position with Edgerrin Cooper. Cooper’s play last season was elite and even though he didn’t get a ton of accolades for it, that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been doing well. On the contrary, he has been dominant and if he continues to grow, look out!

Javon Hargrave and Devonte Wyatt are star players on the defensive line. Hargrave might have had a bit of a down year last season but he isn’t that far removed from posting an eleven sack season from the interior of the defensive line.

Devonte Wyatt has been improving each season overall and was on his way to his best season yet prior to getting injured in 2025. If he can come back healthy, and all reports say he is, then he very well could be inline for a huge season, especially since it is a contract year!

Oh, and there is one more defensive star, but he deserves his own spot!

Number 3 – Packers Offensive Weapons

The Packers may have lost Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks, but they are still not at a loss for talent with their offensive weapons. The Packers, this offseason, have already extended the contracts of Christian Watson and Jayden Reed! Watson is a unicorn type of receiver with speed, size, and overall great athleticism. Watson has improved with his ability to catch the ball and if he can stay healthy is a shoe in for a 1000-yard season. I believe he will stay healthy.

Reed is simply a playmaker! Last season, he had dealt with a multitude of injuries that really affected his overall performance. But last season was more of an outlier than anything. Expect Reed to continue to be an effective playmaker for this Packers offense.

Tucker Kraft is coming back from an ACL injury but is likely to be able to come back late into training camp. If Kraft can pickup where he left off, he could be considered one of – if not the best tight end in all of the NFL.

Oh – and the Packers could have another emerging star at receiver with first round pick Matthew Golden. Green Bay has a multitude of offensive weapons!

Number 2 – Jordan Love

Of course, the offensive weapons can’t be utilized without someone to get them the ball. That’s Jordan Love’s job! And regardless of what some of these “experts” say, Love has proven to be a top tier quarterback in the NFL. All of his stats prove it, and even his film proves it! Those who say otherwise simply don’t watch the Packers play or are Bears’ fans.

Since taking over as the starting quarterback, Love has thrown 80 touchdowns to just 28 interceptions. His biggest knock so far is that he hasn’t been able to stay healthy over the past two seasons. He has missed a total of four games and hasn’t been able to finish a few others due to injuries. If Love can stay healthy, then the Packers could find themselves in a better position going forward.

Number 1 – Micah Parsons

Finally, Micah Parsons. I know I mentioned star defensive players earlier but Micah Parsons is honestly a tier above that. He is the Charles Woodson and Reggie White of this Green Bay Packers iteration. What I mean is that he is on a Hall of Fame trajectory. The Packers were 9-3-1 heading into Denver last season. Micah Parson tears his ACL and then Green Bay finishes 9-7-1. They lost every game afterwards.

Of course, there were other variables too but Parsons definitely gave Green Bay a leg up. This past week, Parsons made mention that he expects to be back mid-October but wouldn’t rush it. He is playing the long game to make sure he is ready for the playoffs. And, of course, everyone wants to see him come back sooner but waiting and being patient is always the best course. Micah Parsons is my number one positive for this upcoming season, especially if he can come back healthy!

With him, the Packers can go anywhere and win.

But time will tell.

As always,

Go Pack Go!

Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.

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I personally don’t see Gutey going out to pick up another high dollar vet or star player. Especially given Christian Watson’s 4 year extension payday, as well as needing to pay Tucker Kraft and Devonte Wyatt.

Bringing in a vet can help, however, the Packers seem confident with the talent in house on the edge.

In fact, the loudest echo of this sentiment has been heard from none other than Packers All Star, Micah Parsons.

Packers New Fan Favorite?

Parsons has been giving a lot of shine to his fellow edge rushers this offseason. He seems very content with the crew he’s currently set to line up next to come October. The most notable praise from Parsons over the last year has undoubtedly been given to Lukas Van Ness.

Packer Nation has been waiting the last 3 years for LVN to live up to his 1st Round value. While he did look improved in the latter part of last season, he’s yet to string together a full season of consistent dominance. There’s certainly enough on tape to keep the Packers invested, and Micah made it known as soon as he got to the building last year that Lukas was someone to watch.

According to a Packerswire article from last September, Parsons had this to say about LVN after arriving in the building.

“He’s selfless,” Parsons said. “Plays the run. Does everything. He’s the kind of guy you want to be around. I’m going to make sure he gets as many plays as possible.”

“He can be a Julius Peppers.”

Fast forward to 2026 and Micah is again calling out LVN as the next big thing for the Packers.

With the departure of Rashan Gary, LVN looks to take up the mantle of rushing opposite Micah. Time will tell if this is Parsons gassing up a teammate, or calling out a future stud on the edge.

Spreading The Love Across The Line

Above you can see Micah alongside rookies Barryn Sorrell (whom I’ve pegged as being the next breakout star) and Collin Oliver (who some folks in the Packers organization have dubbed “Baby Micah”) getting in workouts this offseason.

Parsons has spent the majority of his rehab time alongside these rookies. He’s given them extremely high praise as you can see below.

Training together and building that bond will 100% translate onto the field. I can’t wait to see what these guys look like under Micah’s wing.

Enter Dani Dennis-Sutton

The Packers got an absolute steal with Dennis-Sutton falling to them in the 4th Round. Not only is he a freak athlete, he’s also coming to the Packers via Parsons own alma mater, Penn State.

Here’s what Parsons had to say about the Packers picking up Dani in the draft.

Dennis-Sutton is a punishing pass rusher and I think that Penn State connection will pay dividends for this promising rookie.

The Micah Parsons Project Is An Absolute Success

There is no denying that the Packers are a different organization since Micah Parsons arrived. I remember hearing he was a loud mouth and a liability and a cancer and blah blah blah.

Meanwhile, what I have seen is an elite, one of one athlete, that is a locker room guy and elevates the play of everyone around him. He rarely speaks anything but gratitude, and he does a great job of conveying confidence without being arrogant.

It is great to see the mentorship role that he has naturally taken on. The Packers are extremely lucky to not only have him on the roster, but to have him coaching up and having their rookies emulate his play and mentality.

The Road Ahead

While Parsons will begin the 2026 campaign on the PUP list, he will be back to wreck games before you know it. Below you can see him taking questions during OTAs on Wednesday.

He was very transparent about some meniscus clean up he had during his ACL surgery, and he also discusses what a realistic return timeline may look like.

There’s no doubt it will be a different defense without Parsons for the first handful of games this year. That being said, I do believe there’s reasons to be hopeful about this group of guys. I feel like LVN is primed for a break out season, and I can’t wait to see the edge battle in training camp and during preseason.

Not to mention the possibilities and impact of having Javon Hargrave and Devonte Wyatt wrecking shop on the interior line.

The question is, when the regular season starts, will these young edge rushers step up and hold the line until their leader arrives?

The Green Bay Packers made a similar move last offseason, adding Micah Parsons. At the time it was viewed in a similar manner – a big all in swing to take advantage of where the Packers roster was at.

It’s worth noting that the Rams situation is not the same as the Packers. Primarily because the Rams know that they have only one or two more seasons with QB Matthew Stafford. The why doesn’t change the what however. What has happened is that another NFC team has made a big move, and if Green Bay wants to remain competitive then they may need to make one or two more big moves of their own.

Should Josh Sweat Be A Green Bay Packer

There has been a lot of noise around the Packers and current Arizona edge Josh Sweat. While the media has certainly mentioned this as a potential move, the rumors really started picking up steam on Monday with this:

Now, to be clear Butler is not an Adam Schefter or Ian Rapoport or even a Ricky Scoops. But he has gotten the occasional thing right, including being very early on the Garrett to LA news.

Is Sweat the right move for a team that a season ago thought their roster was good enough for a Super Bowl? I think the answer can be found with just a few simple numbers. The first one is 15.5 and the second one is 55.

15.5 is the amount of sacks combined between Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, Colin Oliver, Brenton Cox Jr, Aaron Mosby and Dani Dennis Sutton. Yes DDS is a rookie and yes Colin Oliver missed most of last season, but the number is 15.5 all the same.

Our second number is 55, which is how many sacks Josh Sweat has had over an 8 year career. Breaking that down further, 12 of those sacks came last year under then Arizona HC and now Packers DC Jonathan Gannon.

Micah Parsons will be back before midseason by all accounts, but until then the Packers as currently constructed are making a huge wager on internal growth from current players. While that model has helped Green Bay stay consistently good, if they want to take another step in an increasingly loaded NFC, they’ve got to add more fire power. We saw last year that good pass rush can mitigate weaknesses in the secondary, and once Parsons went out it those weaknesses became far more pronounced.

Sweat is no Parsons obviously, but would be an excellent band aid until Parsons can return, and then additionally should be able to take advantage of being the number two rusher in a way that Rashan Gary wasn’t able to last year.

What Will it Cost the Packers?

By all accounts the Cardinals are currently looking for a 3-4th round draft pick in exchange for Sweat. If that’s the case then the Packers should be on the phone every day with the Cards until it’s done. The Packers will likely have 11 picks in next years draft.

Sweat reportedly has the Packers as his first choice, and there’s the obvious connection between the two teams head coaches.

If Green Bay needed any more incentive, then the fact that both Philly and the Cowboys have reportedly reached out should be enough to get Green Bay to pull the trigger. The Rams getting Garrett is bad enough without having to watch another NFC hopeful load up at your expense.

The NFC North and the NFC in general is shaping up to be a bloodbath this year. If the Packers want to keep up they can’t afford to sit on their hands.

Packers Weekly is back with another deep dive into the Green Bay Packers, and this episode tackles one of the hottest offseason topics yet: does the Packers’ defensive depth chart have room for another major addition? With OTA storylines heating up and trade rumors swirling across the NFL, Miles Teteak and Tim Hamilton break down the state of Green Bay’s defense and examine whether a move for a proven pass rusher like Josh Sweat could make sense.

The conversation dives into the Packers’ edge-rushing rotation, linebacker depth, emerging young talent, and the overall construction of Jeff Hafley’s defense as the team prepares for the 2026 season. The hosts also react to major NFL news, discuss league-wide trade activity, and separate fact from fiction when it comes to the latest rumors involving Green Bay. Is the defense already loaded, or could one more impact player push this roster into championship contention?

If you’re a diehard Packers fan looking for thoughtful analysis, roster breakdowns, OTA observations, and realistic offseason discussions, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Join the conversation and let us know whether you think the Packers should make a splash before training camp arrives.

Be sure to LIKE this video, leave a COMMENT with your thoughts, and SUBSCRIBE to the Packers Talk Network for weekly Green Bay Packers coverage, live discussions, roster analysis, game breakdowns, draft coverage, and nonstop Packers news throughout the year.

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Packers Weekly is a part of the Packers Talk family of podcasts, serving up five distinct podcasts to satisfy the most fervent of Packer fans. Variety is the spice of life, so subscribe to Packers Talk on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow Packers Talk on Twitter and Facebook.

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Jersey Al Bracco is the co-founder and editor of PackersTalk.com. He can be heard as one of the Co-Hosts on Cheesehead Radio and you can follow him on twitter at @JerseyAlGBP.

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The 15 year pro has made stops with multiple teams including the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills and most recently the New York Jets.

Taylor signed with the Packers last month after the Packers went without drafting a QB in the NFL draft.

With Malik Willis moving on to sign with the Miami Dolphins, the Packers were looking for someone to fill his shoes.

Thus, Taylor will probably be the odds on favorite to be Jordan Loves back-up.

Here is a look at what Tyrod Taylor would bring to the Packers as a Back-up QB.

Experience

The 36-year old veteran, who last served as Aaron Rodgers back-up in New York, brings a ton of experience to the Packers QB room.

Over his 15 year career, Taylor has played in 100 games in the NFL with 62 starts.

As a starter he is 29-31-1.

Furthurmore,Taylor has also made one Pro Bowl back in 2015 and led the Buffalo Bills to their first playoff appearance at that time since 1999.

With the experience Taylor has, the Packers definitely don’t have to worry about that if Taylor ever has to step in for Love.

Taylor knows how to win and lead and brings something other back-ups QB’s don’t have.

A definite plus for the Packers.

Identical Capabilities

Tyrod Taylor has the same capabilities as Willis does as a QB, which makes it an easy transition.

Both can not only stay in the pocket and pass, but they both bring the extra dimension of getting outside the pocket and making plays.

Furthermore, both have the ability to scramble and get yardage when needed.

In his career Taylor has rushed for 2,424 yards and 2o touchdowns.

When it comes to his passing game has completed 1,165 passes for 13,033 yards and 73 touchdowns.

The only difference between Willis and Taylor is again, the experience factor.

Conclusion

The main takeaway with Taylor is the experience factor.

Most teams don’t have a back-up quite like Tyrod Taylor.

Someone who can say, been there done that.

We’re long gone from the days of Brett Favre being the ironman and starting every game for the Packers.

The game is more physical then ever.

While Jordan Love has been a spectacular QB, Love has only had one season where he has started very single game. (2023)

Love has battle injuries the past two seasons and showed the needed for a good Back-up QB.

Willis did a magnificent job of that during his two seasons here.

Taylor will look to do the same if he is ever needed.

The veteran will also be a good tool for the younger QB’s in the room as the team lacks experience behind him and Love.

Hau Khuong has been a Packers fan since 1996. He currently works as a video editor in Green Bay and writes for PackersTalk.com and you can follow him on twitter at @HauKhuongSports.

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With more questions than answers arising, what moves might we see the team make throughout the rest of OTAs?

The Big Question

Unfortunately for the Packers, what was once a quiet offseason got flipped on its head this past week.

Starting running back Josh Jacobs was arrested on charges related to domestic violence, and although nothing is formal yet, things don’t look good.

If guilty, Jacobs should absolutely be condemned and help accountable for his alleged actions, and until that is sorted out, we should err on the side of the victim.

Given that the Green Bay Packers are not an organization that tends to tolerate any sort of offense, I wouldn’t be surprised if big changes are coming.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the running back position in Green Bay, emphasizing that it was the next domino to fall.

I didn’t expect things to move this swiftly.

In fact, a situation like this is exactly why I believe that the Packers were too hasty to move on from Emanuel Wilson this offseason.

Although it’s unclear whether Wilson could’ve been a long-term starter, he certainly would’ve been a better contingency plan than MarShawn Lloyd.

I have high hopes that Lloyd will be able to stay healthy, but he’s the definition of unproven, and right now, that’s not something the Packers can afford.

At the very least, Jacobs will be looking at a suspension, and at worst, a release.

Following the completion of some of the Packers’ other recent moves, things will need to come together quickly.

Post June 1st

The calendar has officially switched over to June, and for the Green Bay Packers, that will soon mark the completion of two previously announced transactions.

Both cornerback Nate Hobbs and kickers Brandon McManus’ contracts will come off the Packers’ pay roll tomorrow, creating just over nine million dollars in cap space.

While the team likely had plans to use that money for in-house extensions, most notably Tucker Kraft and Christian Watson, the Packers’ new offseason circumstances may result in a chunk of that money being re-allocated.

Should the team choose to move on from Josh Jacobs, they’ll likely need to add another back via free agency or trade, as MarShawn Lloyd can’t yet be relied upon.

The post-June 1st releases give the Packers more opportunity to do that, but there may be a bigger move coming first.

Another Splash Move?

In terms of using their newly found cap space, the Packers may also have another interesting option.

Rumors have been swirling in the past few weeks regarding Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat, with Sweat allegedly wanting out.

The Packers reportedly have interest, and it may be a move that Green Bay seriously needs to consider.

Just this morning, it was announced that the Los Angeles Rams have completed a trade package for former Cleveland Brown, Myles Garrett.

His addition will likely make the Rams Super Bowl favorites, and the rest of the conference will need to do its best to keep up.

Although adding Sweat would be a serious cap commitment, costing nearly eleven million dollars all-in, the trade capital required to acquire him could be much lower than expected.

According to Bill Huber at Packers on SI, the Cardinals could accept as little as a fifth-round pick for Sweat, due to his contract, age, and future availability concerns.

If the league executive that spoke with Huber is right, that seems like a no brainer, especially in the Packers’ current window.

Sweat has previous ties to new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, and in the early absence of Micah Parsons, he could get the defense on the ground running.

As of this morning, Easton Butler reported that a deal could be imminent, and at the very least, the Green Bay Packers need to drive up the price tag.

Allowing another team like the Eagles to add Sweat on the cheap could be a huge mistake.